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A Small Community Is Being Built To House Homeless Veterans For Free

A Small Community Is Being Built To House Homeless Veterans For Free

This is brilliant.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Veterans who return home from war are usually gripped with post-traumatic stress disorder, which can cause a whole host of issues.

Unfortunately there aren't enough services around to look after each individual struggling with mental or physical scars. The latest survey in 2016 shows there are more than 39,000 veterans without a home in the US.

But an American charity is trying to change that by giving these men and women one of the most basic qualities of life: a roof over their heads.

The Veterans Community Project is building a collection of houses in an area in Kansas City where returned servicemen and women can live in for free.

Homeless Vets
Homeless Vets

Credit: Veterans Community Project

The project wants to build a small community of 50 homes, which are about the size of a studio apartment each.

While they might be small, they have everything you need: a bathroom, bed, kitchen and TV. They only cost $10,000 to build and furnish.

Homeless Vets 2
Homeless Vets 2

Credit: Veterans Community Project

Homeless Vets 3
Homeless Vets 3

Credit: Veterans Community Project

On its website, the Veterans Community Project states: "Through the power of community, VCP will provide veterans the tools necessary to achieve a stable and prosperous civilian life."

"Housing and services are provided at no cost to the veteran, therefore the success of Veterans Community Project is contingent on the generosity of the community."

The community will boast mentoring, case management, counselling and will provide links to other support services.

It builds on a similar project started in Olympia, Washington in 2013.

Charities have also been set up in the UK to try and tackle the problem of veteran homelessness.

One of those is Launchpad, which tries to provide support to veterans who struggle with transition.

David Shaw, a veteran who works for both the Launchpad and The Veterans' Foundation, told TheLADbible. "We aim to get veterans into employment and living independently within two years.

"We provide veterans with their own refurbished flats, but also with access to communal facilities: an IT suite, a laundry, a social area and a garden.

Launchpad
Launchpad

The outside of Launchpad's Avondale House on the Byker Estate. Credit: Launchpad

"95 percent of our veterans have been homeless, most are poor and some are not even on benefit. Many have welfare and health issues, broken families, drink and drug issues and some come from prison. Most suffer from depression and 15 percent or so suffer from PTSD.

"40 percent of our veterans gain employment; all benefit from the security, independence and camaraderie in the Launchpad houses. We give them time to stabilise their usually chaotic lives. Another 50 percent settle into independent living but without jobs - albeit many are still seeking jobs.

Governments around the world are a long way from solving the issue that plagus many returned servicemen and women - but these grassroots projects are a brilliant start.

Featured Image Credit: Veterans Community Project

Topics: Housing, Veteran